Hey there. I am so glad that you are joining us! You are in the company of hundreds of other women from across the country who together will look deeply into God’s word, and will discover the love of the Father through the encounters of His Son.
In this particular series, we will walk through the encounter of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well outlined in John 4. Each week, we will build on the Truths we discuss the week before. Here is the link to week 1! So, invite a girlfriend! There will be no shortage of hope or encouragement here.
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
Silence.
She barely noticed the approaching group of men. Her eyes are fixed on the man before her.
Something had happened.
Something had taken place in this moment that Scripture doesn’t plainly say, but is clearly evident. She had become filled with living water.
Jesus had offered it earlier, and she had requested it, but I think something happened when Jesus made Himself known.
“I am HE.”
There had been power in His words. She must have felt it. Those words must have penetrated to the depths of her soul bringing life to the dead places within her. They must have resonated and bounced off the walls of her heart filling each hole, each void with Truth.
But it wasn’t a Truth that she could contain. Living water cannot be capped. It must be shared.
She turned to make her way back to the city, but not as she had planned. She wouldn’t be carrying a jar that was filled with water. She wouldn’t be more burdened than she had been on her way to the well when her jar was empty. There would be just as many steps back as there had been out, but she would return lighter, freer, with purpose.
When she encountered Jesus, her plans changed. She left her jar behind. The woman, who had gone out carrying a vessel for water that would run out, became the vessel for water that would be eternal.
The people in town must have noticed a difference. Can you imagine? Can you imagine seeing a woman come back into town without her water jar declaring that she had encountered the Messiah? Can you imagine her eagerness in sharing this news? I wish that Scripture had spent a little more time here. I wish there was an account of her going door to door. I can imagine the living water – the life- spilling over in every word.
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.”
“Come! Could this be the Messiah?!”
Her words had new strength. They carried hope. They carried the sound of the Promise of the coming King.
She was an unlikely choice, but after one encounter with Jesus, she was not only accepted by Him, she was used to further His Kingdom.
“Come, and see a man!”
It is the declaration of our own lives. After one encounter with Jesus, we become like this Samaritan woman. With every act, we invite others to encounter Jesus also. With every conversation, we have the opportunity to lead them to the feet of the King. We show them the way to the One who readily accepts, who eagerly embraces, and who earnestly loves.
“Come, and see a man!”
We are entering the season of Lent. It is the time leading up to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus when we prepare our hearts to receive again the Life offered to us by Jesus. We sacrifice to remind ourselves of His sacrifice.
In the past, I have used this time to “give up” something in an area of my life with the idea of replacing it with Jesus. The time that I would spend on the internet I would instead spend reading His Word. I would deny myself a food that I enjoyed so that every time I craved it, I would think of the Lord’s sacrifice on my behalf.
Tonight, as I read through this passage of scripture again, the Lord gave me a fresh perspective.
Maybe instead of focusing on what I am giving up, I should focus on who I want to become.
What in my life keeps me from moving forward in Christ? What areas do I need to strip away the burdens that would hinder my proclamation of the Messiah?
The Samaritan woman is a beautiful picture of how I want to engage my heart this Lent.
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man….”
It isn’t about denying at all. It is about freeing… releasing… setting my face towards purpose, filling my words with hope, and without reservation sharing the living water that so overwhelms my soul.
So, this Lent, I too leave behind my jar, but more importantly, I make the choice to become the vessel.
Father, search my heart. Show me the areas of my life that keep me from easily sharing your Truth. Reveal the burdens that can be left and exchanged for life. Help me to recognize that what You have to offer is so much more than anything I could fill my heart and day pursuing. I ask for strength to become a vessel. Use me, Lord, to spread Your love. Create in me a clean heart, Father, so that others may see You through me. I will be careful to give You all of the honor and glory for the transformation of my heart and my resurrection unto new life. What an honor to be used by my King! I love You, and I praise Your name! In Jesus’ name, I boldly come before your throne, Lord.
Will you join me this Lent? Will you consider the areas of life that need to be stripped away so that you aren’t just leaving behind a jar, but are becoming a vessel? I hope you will! I would love to hear from you!
